Comments

BudWzr wrote on 2/18/2010, 8:56 AM
Check the Vanguard at Costco for $50, it has a fluid head. It's a little heavy though. I have a camera strap attached to mine and wear it like a bow & arrow style.
richard-courtney wrote on 2/18/2010, 12:48 PM
Most any tripods made with carbon composite. My suggestion invest in the best tripod you can('t) afford.
Sachtler Speed Lock legs with FSB4 head.

Miller makes the DV10 Solo but I don't have a nearby dealer to have personally tried it.
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There was a post awhile back, cheap tripod. I think it was a 1/4" 20 eyebolt
with string. I tried it and to my surprise worked quite well. Stand feet apart
on top of string holding the eyebolt (from hardware store) attached to camera.
Lift upward with camera keeping string taunt. String will form a triangle.
rs170a wrote on 2/18/2010, 2:48 PM
Check the Vanguard at Costco for $50, it has a fluid head.

At that price, I guarantee that it's not a fluid head.

Mike
BudWzr wrote on 2/18/2010, 5:06 PM
I have one, and it IS. Smooth as a baby's bottom to pan.

EDIT: Looks like I have to eat crow, it's not a fluid head, but it sure does feel and work like one. Anyway, it's not a regular joint like those cheapee ones. The best i can describe it is like some kind of permanently sealed lubed rubber o-ring maybe.

It's the Vanguard MG3.
farss wrote on 2/18/2010, 6:57 PM
From my experience unfortunately small camcorders work best on heavy tripods. You simply need the inertia to stop things wobbling. One of my clients even had a cheap tripod get blown over. A wrecked camera made the cheap tripod rather expensive.
All might not be lost however. If you're putting the tripod in a backpack where are you travelling. If out in the wilds maybe you don't need a full tripod at all, if there's enough things aroung that you could clamp something onto and then in turn use that to hold a good fluid head then your problems might be solved.

Another alternative is to look at things like the Gorillapod, add a Manfrotto head and you might be set to go. Even a cheap tripod can be made to perform better by tying a weight such as a rock or filled waterbottle to it. A short adjustable strap between the hook on the tripod and something heavy or solid can help.

Bob.
Hulk wrote on 2/20/2010, 9:55 AM
I have the Manfrotto/Bogen 3001BD tripod and 3130 head and like them a lot. They look virtually new after many years of use. The only thing is the locks on the 'pod will pinch you if you don't keep fingers out of the way. I'm used to it by now so it's not a big deal. I also use it quite a bit on the beach and the salt hasn't corroded or rusted anything.

- Mark